A method for reversible catalytic cycle production of steam from hydrogen molecules

Abstract

This invention provides a method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam. Specifically, it includes: S1 passing hydrogen gas into catalyst 1 at a specific temperature, where it dissociates into hydrogen atoms; S2 passing the hydrogen atoms into catalyst 2 at a specific temperature, where they are converted into protons and electrons; S3 passing the protons and electrons into a heat exchanger containing liquid water, where, under normal temperature and pressure conditions, the protons and electrons combine to form hydrogen atoms, which then combine to form hydrogen molecules, releasing a large amount of energy as heat to convert the liquid water in the heat exchanger into steam; S4 separating the steam and hydrogen mixture through a polymer membrane; and S5 recovering the hydrogen gas and reusing it in step S1 to produce steam in a cycle. In this invention, hydrogen can be recycled, effectively reducing the cost of hydrogen production and thus the cost of steam production. Furthermore, the overall device design is reasonable, facilitating the large-scale application of hydrogen in heating and power generation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of clean energy technology, specifically relating to a method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam. Background Technology

[0002] In modern society's energy system, the heating and power generation sectors have a huge and continuous demand for steam. For a long time, coal and natural gas have been the primary fuels, releasing enormous energy during combustion and producing large quantities of steam to meet the needs of heating and power generation. However, this traditional model is facing unprecedented difficulties. On the one hand, both coal and natural gas are non-renewable resources, and with large-scale, high-intensity mining and use, their reserves are dwindling, exacerbating the already strained energy supply. On the other hand, the combustion of coal and natural gas emits massive amounts of carbon dioxide, becoming a major contributor to global warming. According to relevant data, carbon dioxide emissions from the heating and power generation industries account for a significant proportion of global emissions, placing a heavy burden on the ecological environment. Under these severe circumstances, finding a low-cost, carbon dioxide-free steam production method has become a pressing technical challenge in the energy sector, and hydrogen, as a highly promising energy carrier, is gradually gaining public attention.

[0003] Using hydrogen to produce steam offers numerous advantages: From an environmental perspective, hydrogen is a true "clean angel." When hydrogen is burned or participates in chemical reactions to produce steam, the only byproduct is water, with no emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. This means that using hydrogen to produce steam can fundamentally address the greenhouse gas emissions problem caused by traditional energy use, playing an immeasurable positive role in mitigating global warming, improving air quality, and protecting ecological balance. In terms of energy efficiency, hydrogen exhibits excellent energy density; the energy contained in a unit mass of hydrogen is far higher than that of traditional fuels such as coal and natural gas. This means that less hydrogen is needed to produce the same amount of steam, significantly improving energy efficiency and contributing to efficient energy use and sustainable development. Furthermore, hydrogen has extremely wide-ranging sources. It can be produced through water electrolysis, using electricity generated from renewable energy sources to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen; or through biomass hydrogen production technology, extracting hydrogen from various biomass raw materials. This diversified source of raw materials greatly reduces dependence on finite fossil fuels, enhancing the stability and security of energy supply.

[0004] Currently, there are two main traditional methods for producing steam from hydrogen. One method involves the combustion reaction of hydrogen. In a specially designed combustion device, hydrogen and oxygen are thoroughly mixed and undergo a vigorous combustion reaction. During this process, hydrogen is oxidized, releasing a large amount of heat. This heat is transferred to liquid water through a heat exchanger, causing its temperature to rise until it boils and is converted into steam. The entire process is simple and direct, with relatively high thermal conversion efficiency. The other method is based on hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrogen fuel cells utilize the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. In this process, hydrogen loses electrons to become hydrogen ions, which then combine with oxygen through an electrolyte membrane to form water. The large amount of heat generated during the reaction heats the resulting water into steam. This method not only produces steam but also outputs electricity simultaneously, achieving cascaded energy utilization and further improving the overall energy efficiency.

[0005] Despite the promising prospects of the two aforementioned hydrogen-to-steam production methods, numerous challenging issues remain in practical applications. The most significant is cost. Hydrogen production is expensive; for example, water electrolysis requires substantial amounts of electricity, and current electricity costs have not yet been significantly reduced, resulting in persistently high hydrogen production costs. Furthermore, the design of hydrogen-to-steam production equipment is severely outdated, limiting the large-scale application of hydrogen in heating and power generation, and hindering the formation of a complete and efficient industrial chain for hydrogen-to-steam production.

[0006] In summary, how to provide a low-cost method for producing steam from hydrogen is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam, comprising the following steps:

[0008] S1 introduces hydrogen gas into catalyst 1 at a specific temperature, causing a catalytic dissociation reaction that dissociates the hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms.

[0009] S2 hydrogen atoms continue to be introduced into catalyst 2 at a specific temperature, and are transformed into protons and electrons through atomic activation and electron transfer.

[0010] S3 protons and electrons continue to flow into the heat exchanger containing liquid water. Under normal temperature and pressure conditions, the protons and electrons in the heat exchanger combine to form hydrogen atoms, releasing a large amount of energy. The hydrogen atoms then combine to form hydrogen molecules, releasing a large amount of energy. The energy released in both reactions is used as heat energy to convert the liquid water in the heat exchanger into steam.

[0011] S4 passes a mixture of steam and hydrogen through a polymer membrane, using the different permeation rates of the polymer membrane to separate the steam and hydrogen.

[0012] The hydrogen obtained in S5 is recovered and reused in step S1, thus enabling the recycling of steam.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, in step S1, the hydrogen flow rate is 50-500 ml / min.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, in step S1, the catalyst 1 is a platinum wire mesh catalyst with a mesh size of 40-60 mesh and a purity of over 99%.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, in step S1, the specific temperature of the catalyst 1 is 420-480°C; preferably, the specific temperature of the catalyst 1 is 460°C.

[0016] In this step, hydrogen gas is introduced into a platinum wire mesh catalyst at a specific temperature (420-480℃), where it catalytically dissociates into hydrogen atoms. The specific reactions include: ① Diffusion and Adsorption: Hydrogen molecules diffuse through the gas phase to the surface of the platinum wire mesh catalyst. Due to platinum's unique crystal structure and surface properties, it has a strong adsorption effect on hydrogen molecules. Hydrogen molecules are physically adsorbed onto the platinum wire mesh surface, temporarily attaching to its active sites. ② Orbital Overlap and Electron Cloud Distortion: The d orbitals of platinum atoms overlap with the σ-bonding orbitals of hydrogen molecules. This overlap causes distortion in the electron cloud of hydrogen molecules, resulting in an asymmetrical electron cloud distribution. This causes some electrons in the hydrogen molecules to transfer to the platinum atoms, forming a weaker chemisorption bond between the hydrogen molecules and the platinum surface. ③ Feedback Effect and Bond Weakening: The d electrons of the platinum atoms feed back to the antibonding orbitals of the hydrogen molecules, further weakening the hydrogen-hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, the uneven distribution of electron clouds on the platinum surface, with localized differences in charge density, causes the electric field to gradually increase the distance between hydrogen atoms in the hydrogen molecule, further elongating the hydrogen-hydrogen bond and reducing its bond energy. ④ Overcoming activation energy and bond breaking: Under the high temperature of 420-480℃, the system provides sufficient thermal energy for the hydrogen molecule to overcome the activation energy required for dissociation. When the hydrogen-hydrogen bond is elongated to a certain extent, the bond energy decreases sufficiently to cause the bond to break, ultimately decomposing the hydrogen molecule into two hydrogen atoms adsorbed on the platinum surface. These hydrogen atoms remain stable on the platinum surface in an adsorbed state, thus participating in subsequent chemical reactions.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, in step S2, the catalyst 2 is a platinum / palladium metal catalyst; in the platinum / palladium metal catalyst, the atomic ratio of platinum to palladium is (1-3):1, the platinum particle size is 3-10 nm, and the palladium particle size is 5-12 nm.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, in step S2, the catalyst support of the catalyst 2 includes at least one of alumina, silica, or activated carbon; the mass ratio of the support to the total mass of platinum and palladium is (10-100):1.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, in step S2, the specific temperature of the catalyst 2 is 420-480°C.

[0020] In this step, hydrogen atoms are introduced into a platinum or palladium metal catalyst at a specific temperature (420-480℃), where they are converted into protons and electrons. This process includes the following reactions: ① Adsorption and activation on the metal surface: Platinum and palladium have unique crystal structures and electron cloud distributions, with highly active sites on their surfaces. When hydrogen atoms approach the metal surface, they are adsorbed onto these active sites. During adsorption, a weak interaction forms between the hydrogen atoms and the atoms on the metal surface. This interaction deforms the electron cloud of the hydrogen atom, causing it to shift towards the metal surface to a certain extent. This weakens the bond between the electrons and the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, thus activating the hydrogen atom. ② Electron transfer and proton formation: Because platinum and palladium are excellent conductors of electricity, they have high electron mobility. Electrons in the activated hydrogen atoms, under the influence of thermal motion and the electron cloud on the metal surface, have a certain probability of detaching from the hydrogen atom and transferring to the electron sea of ​​the metal, causing the hydrogen atom to lose electrons and become a proton. The electron sea of ​​a metal can be viewed as a system capable of accommodating and transporting electrons. It can accept electrons lost by hydrogen atoms and continue to transport electrons through the electron conduction mechanism inside the metal.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the reaction pressure in steps S1 and S2 is 0.1-1.0 MPa; preferably, the reaction pressure is 0.5 MPa.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, in step S3, the mass-to-volume ratio of liquid water in the heat exchanger to hydrogen introduced in S1 is 1t:(1.5-2.5)m³. 3 .

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, in step S4, the polymer membrane includes at least one of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, a polyimide (PI) membrane, a polybenzimidazole (PBI) membrane, a fluoropolymer membrane, or a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite membrane.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0025] In this invention, hydrogen gas is sequentially reacted with catalyst 1 (platinum wire mesh catalyst) and catalyst 2 (platinum / palladium metal catalyst) in a high-temperature environment of 420-480°C through specific condition design. The specific mechanism includes:

[0026] When hydrogen gas is introduced into the reaction space at a specific flow rate and temperature and comes into contact with the platinum wire mesh, the dissociation reaction is initiated. Hydrogen molecules diffuse into the gas phase and approach the surface of the platinum wire mesh. Due to the unique atomic structure of platinum, which has unfilled d orbitals, the σ-bonding orbitals of the hydrogen molecules overlap with the d orbitals of the platinum atoms. In the initial stage, hydrogen molecules adhere to the surface of the platinum wire mesh through physical adsorption, forming weak van der Waals forces between them. As the interaction deepens, the d electrons of the platinum atoms feed back to the antibonding orbitals of the hydrogen molecules, greatly weakening the hydrogen-hydrogen bonds. At the same time, the electric field effect generated by the non-uniform distribution of the electron clouds of the platinum atoms further lengthens the hydrogen-hydrogen bonds. With the sufficient thermal energy provided by the high temperature, the hydrogen molecules overcome the activation energy required for dissociation, the hydrogen-hydrogen bonds break, and hydrogen atoms are generated adsorbed on the surface of the platinum wire mesh.

[0027] Subsequently, these newly generated hydrogen atoms continue to react with the platinum / palladium metal catalyst in the system at a high reaction temperature of 420-480℃. The platinum / palladium metal catalyst, also due to its unique electronic structure and catalytic activity, can promote further transformation of hydrogen atoms. Under the action of the catalyst, electrons in the hydrogen atoms are transferred, escaping the bondage of the hydrogen nucleus. The hydrogen atom loses electrons and becomes a proton, while the released electrons enter the corresponding electron conduction system. Throughout the process, the platinum / palladium metal catalyst lowers the activation energy of the reaction, allowing the reaction of hydrogen atoms converting into protons and electrons to proceed efficiently and stably at specific temperatures.

[0028] Furthermore, protons (i.e., hydrogen nuclei) and electrons are introduced into a heat exchanger containing liquid water. When the system is at room temperature and pressure, the protons and electrons undergo a bonding reaction. Electrons, possessing specific energy states, approach protons at the appropriate time. According to quantum mechanics, the electrons enter specific quantum orbitals of the hydrogen atom, forming a stable hydrogen atom structure. During this bonding process, the energy state of the system changes; the electrons transition from a relatively free high-energy state to a lower energy state after bonding with the proton, releasing excess energy in the form of photons. Subsequently, these newly formed hydrogen atoms interact further. Because hydrogen atoms possess unpaired electrons, they tend to combine to form more stable structures. Two hydrogen atoms approach each other, their electron clouds overlap, and they form covalent bonds by sharing electron pairs, thus combining to form a hydrogen molecule. During the polymerization of hydrogen atoms into hydrogen molecules, the formation of chemical bonds between atoms further lowers the system's energy, releasing a large amount of energy.

[0029] The released energy is sufficient to heat the liquid water in the heat exchanger to produce steam. Finally, the mixture of steam and hydrogen in the system is passed through a polymer membrane. The different permeation rates of the polymer membrane separate the steam and hydrogen, thus producing steam at low cost. At the same time, the separated hydrogen can be recovered and recycled for steam production.

[0030] Therefore, the technical solution provided by this invention allows for the recycling of hydrogen, effectively reducing the cost of hydrogen production and consequently lowering the cost of steam production. Furthermore, the overall device design of this invention is reasonable, enabling large-scale application of hydrogen in heating and power generation, thus forming a complete and efficient industrial chain for hydrogen-to-steam production. Attached Figure Description

[0031] These and / or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer and more readily understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the actual process of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments.

[0034] This invention provides a method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam, which solves many problems in the prior art, such as high hydrogen production costs and seriously outdated equipment design related to hydrogen-to-steam production.

[0035] The technical solution of this application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments:

[0036] Unless otherwise specified, the technical means used in this invention are conventional means well known to those skilled in the art. All raw materials, reagents, instruments, and equipment used in this invention can be purchased commercially or prepared using existing methods. Unless otherwise specified, all reagents used in this invention are of analytical grade.

[0037] Example

[0038] A method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam, the process flow diagram is shown below. Figure 1 As shown.

[0039] As shown in the figure, hydrogen gas is sequentially introduced into catalyst 1 and catalyst 2 at specific temperatures. The protons and electrons formed during the conversion combine to form hydrogen atoms and hydrogen gas in the heat exchange process at room temperature and pressure, releasing a large amount of energy. The energy released in the two reactions is used as heat energy to convert liquid water into steam. Then, the steam and hydrogen gas are separated by a polymer membrane, and the hydrogen gas is used to produce steam in a cycle.

[0040] Specifically, the following steps are included:

[0041] S1 introduces hydrogen gas into catalyst 1 (platinum wire mesh catalyst) at 460℃, causing a catalytic dissociation reaction that dissociates the hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms; wherein the hydrogen gas flow rate is 100 ml / min; the platinum wire mesh catalyst has a mesh size of 50 mesh and a purity of over 99%.

[0042] Hydrogen atoms from step S2 are continuously introduced into catalyst 2 (platinum / palladium metal catalyst) at 460℃, where they are converted into protons and electrons through atomic activation and electron transfer. In the platinum / palladium metal catalyst, the atomic ratio of platinum to palladium is 2:1, the platinum particle size is 3-10 nm, the palladium particle size is 5-12 nm, and the catalyst support is alumina. The mass ratio of the support to the total mass of platinum and palladium is 50:1. The reaction pressure in steps S1 and S2 is 0.5 MPa.

[0043] S3 continues to introduce protons and electrons containing liquid water (the mass-to-volume ratio of liquid water to hydrogen introduced in S1 is 1t:2m). 3 In the heat exchanger, under normal temperature and pressure conditions, protons and electrons combine to form hydrogen atoms, releasing a large amount of energy. The hydrogen atoms then combine to form hydrogen molecules, releasing a large amount of energy. The energy released in both reactions is used as heat energy to convert the liquid water in the heat exchanger into steam.

[0044] S4 passes a mixture of steam and hydrogen through a PDMS polymer membrane, using the different permeation rates of the polymer membrane to separate the steam and hydrogen.

[0045] The hydrogen obtained in S5 is recovered and reused in step S1, which can then be used to catalytically cycle and produce steam.

[0046] The economic benefits of this invention, as calculated, include:

[0047] 1m 3 The steam produced approximately 89g of atomic hydrogen, generating electrons and protons. When these protons combined to form hydrogen atoms, they released energy of 1312 kJ / mol and 116768 kJ / m³. 3 When hydrogen atoms combine to form hydrogen molecules, they release 436 kJ / mol and 19402 kJ / m³ of energy. 3 .

[0048] Total energy release: 116768KJ + 19402KJ = 136170KJ / m 3

[0049] 1m 3 The hydrogen circulation can generate 136,170 kJ of heat, equivalent to the heat of combustion of natural gas:

[0050] 136170KJ / m 3 ÷35874KJ / m 3 =3.79m 3 It can produce steam with an enthalpy of 2880 KJ / kg.

[0051] 136470KJ / m 3 ÷2880KJ / kg steam = 47.28kg.

[0052] 1m 3 The hydrogen circulation volume can generate 3.79 m³ of heat equivalent to natural gas combustion without any fuel cost. 3 .

[0053] 3600m in 1 hour 3 Hydrogen recycling can save natural gas by producing steam.

[0054] 3600m 3 / hour × 3.79m 3 =13649m 3

[0055] Reduce carbon dioxide emissions:

[0056] 13649m 3 ×1.965kg / m 3 CO2 = 26820 kg / n.

[0057] Therefore, the process for producing steam from hydrogen through a reversible catalytic cycle provided by this invention has many unique advantages and beneficial effects:

[0058] Firstly, from the perspective of energy conversion efficiency, the platinum wire mesh catalyst, at 420-480℃, can efficiently catalyze the dissociation of hydrogen gas due to its unique atomic structure and electronic properties. Hydrogen molecules are rapidly converted into hydrogen atoms on the surface of the platinum wire mesh, greatly reducing the activation energy and ensuring rapid and stable reaction progress. Subsequently, under the action of the platinum / palladium metal catalyst, hydrogen atoms are precisely converted into protons and electrons based on atomic activation and electron transfer mechanisms. In this process, the energy release and utilization pathway is clear, greatly reducing unnecessary energy loss. Compared with traditional processes that rely on fossil fuel combustion to generate steam, this method can save a significant amount of initial energy input and significantly improve the conversion efficiency from hydrogen chemical energy to steam thermal energy, opening up a new avenue for efficient energy utilization.

[0059] Secondly, from an environmental perspective, the method of this invention uses hydrogen as the starting material for the entire reaction, and its final product is only water. The entire process does not produce any harmful environmental pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, or particulate matter. Furthermore, hydrogen can be recycled, further reducing production costs and energy consumption, and injecting strong momentum into the vigorous development of a green and low-carbon economy.

[0060] Furthermore, from the perspective of reaction safety, the steam generation method of this invention differs from traditional steam generating devices such as high-pressure boilers. This method operates at a relatively mild reaction temperature of 420-480℃ and under normal or near-normal pressure conditions, greatly reducing safety hazards such as explosions that may be caused by high-pressure equipment. Simultaneously, the platinum wire mesh catalyst and the platinum / palladium metal catalyst are stable and unlikely to undergo unexpected chemical changes throughout the reaction process, comprehensively ensuring the safe and stable operation of the entire reaction system and building a solid defense for personnel safety and stable equipment operation during production.

[0061] Finally, in terms of reaction controllability and flexibility, this invention can precisely control the steam generation rate and yield by accurately regulating the hydrogen flow rate, reaction system temperature, and relevant parameters of the platinum wire mesh and platinum / palladium metal catalyst. Whether it's the urgent need for massive amounts of steam in large-scale industrial production or the fine-tuning of steam volume in small-scale scientific research experiments, this invention can handle the situation with ease, providing a reliable, flexible, and versatile steam supply solution for both industrial production and scientific research.

[0062] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention is for illustrative and explanatory purposes. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many changes and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to implement and utilize various different exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various different choices and variations. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1 introduces hydrogen gas into catalyst 1 at a specific temperature, causing a catalytic dissociation reaction that dissociates the hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms. S2 hydrogen atoms continue to be introduced into catalyst 2 at a specific temperature, and through the effects of atomic activation and electron transfer, they are transformed into protons and electrons; S3 protons and electrons continue to flow into the heat exchanger containing liquid water. Under normal temperature and pressure conditions, the protons and electrons in the heat exchanger combine to form hydrogen atoms, releasing a large amount of energy. The hydrogen atoms then combine to form hydrogen molecules, releasing a large amount of energy. The energy released in both reactions is used as heat energy to convert the liquid water in the heat exchanger into steam. S4 passes a mixture of steam and hydrogen through a polymer membrane, using the different permeation rates of the polymer membrane to separate the steam and hydrogen. The hydrogen obtained in S5 is recovered and reused in step S1, which can be used to produce steam in a cycle. In step S1, the catalyst 1 is a platinum wire mesh catalyst with a mesh size of 40-60 mesh and a purity of over 99%; the specific temperature of the catalyst 1 is 420-480℃. In step S2, the catalyst 2 is a platinum / palladium metal catalyst; in the platinum / palladium metal catalyst, the atomic ratio of platinum to palladium is (1-3):1, the platinum particle size is 3-10nm, and the palladium particle size is 5-12nm; the specific temperature of the catalyst 2 is 420-480℃. In step S4, the polymer membrane includes at least one of polydimethylsiloxane membrane, polyimide membrane, polybenzimidazole membrane, fluoropolymer membrane or polyvinyl alcohol composite membrane.

2. The method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, the hydrogen flow rate is 50-500 ml / min.

3. The method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the catalyst support of the catalyst 2 includes at least one of alumina, silica, or activated carbon; the mass ratio of the support to the total mass of platinum and palladium is (10-100):

1.

4. The method for reversibly catalytically cycling hydrogen molecules to produce steam as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the mass-to-volume ratio of liquid water in the heat exchanger to hydrogen introduced in S1 is 1t:(1.5-2.5)m 3 .

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